Herbs & spices
Can cats eat cinnamon?
Small traces are not toxic, but cats are sensitive to concentrated essential oils, so keep cinnamon oil and diffusers away.
Why Coumarin and cinnamaldehyde (concentrated in oils)
By Maya HartIf your cat ate some
- A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset.
- Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell.
- Call your vet if your pet inhaled powder and is coughing, or licked cinnamon oil.
Signs to watch for
- Mouth irritation
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Coughing if powder was inhaled
How much, how often
Avoid giving it on purpose.
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of the day’s calories. Work out your pet’s calories
Serving it safely
- Only as a pinch in pet-safe baking
- Watch out for nutmeg in the same recipes — it is mildly toxic
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs In moderation
A pinch of cinnamon in baked food is not toxic to dogs. Large amounts, the powder inhaled, or cinnamon oil can irritate the mouth, stomach and lungs.
How much: A pinch; never cinnamon oil.
Can dogs eat cinnamon?Cats In moderation
Small traces are not toxic, but cats are sensitive to concentrated essential oils, so keep cinnamon oil and diffusers away.
How much: Avoid giving it on purpose.
The details
The spice itself is fine in small amounts, but the foods that contain it often are not. Cinnamon rolls, cakes and holiday bakes may contain raisins, chocolate, nutmeg or xylitol, and are fatty and sugary. The “cinnamon challenge” danger — inhaling a spoonful of dry powder — applies to dogs that get into the spice jar too.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat cinnamon?
Small traces are not toxic, but cats are sensitive to concentrated essential oils, so keep cinnamon oil and diffusers away.
How much cinnamon can a cat have?
Avoid giving it on purpose.
What makes cinnamon risky for cats?
Coumarin and cinnamaldehyde (concentrated in oils).
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
mouth irritation, vomiting or diarrhoea, coughing if powder was inhaled.
What should I do if my cat ate cinnamon?
A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset. Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell. Call your vet if your pet inhaled powder and is coughing, or licked cinnamon oil.
Is cinnamon safe for dogs too?
A pinch of cinnamon in baked food is not toxic to dogs. Large amounts, the powder inhaled, or cinnamon oil can irritate the mouth, stomach and lungs.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
